Technology is rapidly changing how we work (and live) in the kitchen in 2019. Today’s kitchen allows for adulting with ease, geeking out among cool appliances and it’s ideal for a new brand of cook: the “gourmet hacker”, one who has no more excuses for: 1) can’t cook 2) takes too long, and 3) too much clean up. Kitchen appliances in 2019 focus on wellness, tech, and mind-blowing gourmet efficiencies. Here are the top takeaways for navigating the tech-centric kitchen in 2019.

Voice control technology in the kitchen starts with Alexa and Google Assistant integration. Amazon sold tens of millions (truth!) Alexa units just over the 2018 holidays. Over 50% of these units will end up in the kitchen and Alexa is quickly changing how we work and live in the kitchen. Appliance brands are racing to integrate Alexa into its appliances we seen at the recent CES and KBIS shows this January.

We’re currently asking Alexa to find recipes, create grocery lists, order products and we interact with Alexa services such as IFTTT, Nest, Lutron, Spotify, Google Calendar. More services are coming online every day to serve as our personal assistants and manage our lives.

Appliance brands are integrating Alexa and other services into their products to manage appliance functions and to engineer appliances within the same brand to talk to each other. You can ask Alexa or Google Assistant when the dishwasher will be finished. Use voice technology to preheat the oven or to change the oven’s temperature. Set an oven timer. How much time is remaining for the oven timer? Is the ice maker full? Microwave voice control is on the horizon. Tell the dishwasher what program to run next. “Alexa, cook me dinner” would be a welcome upgrade!